So the London Borough of Enfield – just a couple of boroughs away from me, and close to my home town – has withdrawn from the government’s “new town” programme. Basically the council, which has recently changed from Labour to Conservative run, has told the government there will be no “new town” building on the proposed sites at Crews Hill and Chase Park.
I know the Crews Hill area (although not recently) and it is an open, relatively unbuilt area which is a nationally important horticultural centre, including garden centres and plant nurseries; plus pet shops with reptile and bird specialists; and a popular equestrian centre. Consequently there has been significant local opposition to the government’s plans.
See the Station marked “Grove” at top right: that was where I spent my childhood.
Source: LB Enfield
Most of the two areas is designated Green Belt land, and should therefore be protected from development to ensure a green, environmentally friendly, area around the capital.
The Enfield council now says that the commitment to increase housing (required by the government, and the London Plan) will now concentrate on using brownfield sites and redevelopment of existing facilities.
I strongly believe this is something which needs to be exhausted before there is ever consideration of building on Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land – which councils are overly prone to chip away at; this little bit won’t matter; and then this bit; and this bit; until the whole is gone, which I’m seeing locally. There seems too little concern for the environment; just more and more development – because it brings in money for the council.
[Aside: I also believe that any building which is less than 50% occupied for, say, three months should be required to be converted into housing. This would not only increase housing but also clamp down on speculative build.]
Enfield’s stance is not (just) a question of NIMBY-ism or party politics, but a strike for common sense, respect for existing communities, and the law.
More power to a council – any council regardless of political persuasion – with the guts to stand up to, and call out, the government. We need more of this if we are to keep the place pleasantly inhabitable and environmentally sound.
There are a number of media reports on the decision, including this from The Guardian.